Blockades compound marina problems in Spain

Spanish fishermen maintain their grip on maritime activity in Denia, more and more pleasure craft are being caught up in the chaos

s the iron will of the Spanish fishermen to maintain their grip on maritime activity in Denia intensifies, more and more pleasure craft are being caught up in the chaos.

This morning eight yachts were forced to drop anchor outside the entrance to Denia Marina and wait to be tendered ashore. According to a Marina de Denia spokesman, the phone has not stopped ringing with clients and visitors calling in hopes of gaining entry. “People were unaware of the strike and now they are finding that they are affected as much as everyone else. All of the ports along the Costa Blanca are literally sealed off to all traffic. For us it will become even more problematic at the weekend when everyone wants to take their boat out of the marina.”

Meanwhile, two passenger ferries are moored offshore the Denia Port with over 400 passengers. In Valencia, where the strike is estimated to be causing a loss of Euro 9 million per day, there are 41 ships affected: 13 of them were caught at the wharves and are unable to leave, 24 are moored around the bocana without being able to enter, and an additional four were scheduled for arrival early this morning. Three cargo ships are stranded in the Port of Gandia and another five in Sagunt.